White Coat Profile: Nicole Falls
Meet Nicole Falls

Saturday Scrubs is a free program that encourages Arizona high school students to explore their interest in becoming a physician with weekend programming on topics related to medicine and the human body. Summer Scrubs is a health career exploration program designed to help high school students prepare for a future in the health professions.
The exposure Falls received from both programs was invaluable to her and nurtured her interest in a medical career. As a high school freshman, she was initially denied admission into Summer Scrubs. She later completed Summer Scrubs as a high school junior and enjoyed the engagement with physicians and medical students. Falls shadowed health care professionals at a cardiology clinic and viewed a heart catheterization procedure. In 2019, while in college, she served as a Summer Scrubs camp counselor.
“I remember when I applied to medical school. I wrote in my application about how much being a Summer Scrubs counselor meant for me and for my personal growth. I just wanted to be that person for someone else and to be a resource for them. Now, as a medical student, I will have the opportunity to be part of the Saturday Scrubs program, which takes me back to where I started. Maybe I’ll inspire someone who is in the exact same spot I was several years ago.”
It was a college service trip to Ecuador with a group of surgeons that convinced her she set the right career goal.
“I remember volunteering to help with pre-op and post-op activities and that was when I knew there was nowhere else that I wanted to be. I had combined every one of my interests — medicine, Spanish and my love of culture and travel. I was also using my Spanish language skills to translate for the doctors and help communicate care plans back to the local patients,” said Falls.

“I think it is because they work so hard, and they have shown me how to be a hard worker. They have encouraged me to run toward the things I am passionate about and not worry about what anyone else is doing or thinking. The lessons I have learned from them have made me someone who is going to succeed hopefully in the future with whatever I end up doing,” said Falls.
She is thrilled to start medical school and participate in the White Coat Ceremony. Looking ahead, she plans to practice in Arizona after she completes residency.
“Every year I would read about the students in White Coat Ceremony, and now I’m one of them. It’s such an honor to be here. I think it is a combination of all of the hard work that we’ve done thus far on our journeys.”
About the College
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.
As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona and many continue training at our GME sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.
The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.